Fall suppressing device for a vehicle configured to ride on descending and ascending escalators

Abstract

A fall suppressing device 8 provided in a cart for moving up and down an escalator includes an engagement member 87 and an oil damper 81. The engagement member 87 is vertically movably coupled to the cart, and engages with an upper step when a wheel 5 falls from the upper step. The oil damper 81 damps a relative moving speed between a cart body and the engagement member 87.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cart configured to ride on ascending and descending escalators after being moved onto the escalator, said cart comprising: a cart body;   a plurality of wheels supported at lower portions of said cart body;   a fall suppressing device having a first engagement member coupled to said cart body proximate a rearward side of at least one of said wheels for pivotal movement with respect to said cart body, said first engagement member biased into a position that is slightly spaced from a floor with said wheels in general level contact with the floor,   a second engagement member coupled to said cart body proximate a forward side of at least one of said wheels for pivotal movement with respect to said cart body, said second engagement member biased into a position that is slightly spaced from the floor with said wheels in general level contact with the floor, said first and said second engagement members configured to pivot in opposite directions, and   a damper coupled between said cart body and said first and second engagement members for dampening movements of both said first and second engagement members with respect to said cart body.     
     
     
       2. The cart according to claim 1, further comprising a first arm pivotally mounted to said cart body, said first engagement member fixed to a distal end of said first arm, wherein said first engagement member is movable relatively to said cart body along an arc-shaped path defined by pivotal movement of said first arm with respect to said cart body.   
     
     
       3. The cart according to claim 1, wherein said first and second engagement members are interlocked such that movement of said first engagement member causes said second engagement member to undergo corresponding movement. 
     
     
       4. A cart configured to ride on ascending and descending escalators after being moved onto the escalator, said cart comprising: a cart body;   front wheels and rear wheels supported at lower portions of said cart body;   a front-wheel-fall suppressing device that includes: a first arm coupled to said cart body proximate a rearward side of one of said front wheels for pivotal movement with respect to said cart body,   a second arm coupled to said cart body proximate a forward side of said one of said front wheels for pivotal movement with respect to said cart body,   a first engagement member fixed to a distal end of said first arm,   a second engagement member fixed to a distal end of said second arm, and   a damper having a first end fixed to said cart body proximate said one of said front wheels,   said first and second engagement members biased into a position that is slightly spaced from a floor with said front and rear wheels in generally level contact with the floor, said first and said second engagement members configured to pivot in opposite directions, said damper is coupled between said cart body and said first and second engagement members for dampening movement of said first engagement member with respect to said cart body, and   said first and second engagement members are interlocked such that movement of said first engagement member causes said second engagement member to undergo corresponding movement.     
     
     
       5. The cart according to claim 4, wherein said front and rear wheels are formed apart such that said front and rear wheels are adapted to engage with different steps of the escalator. 
     
     
       6. A cart configured to ride on ascending and descending escalators after being moved onto the escalator, said cart comprising: a cart body;   front wheels and rear wheels supported at lower portions of said cart body;   front-wheel-fall suppressing device that includes: a first arm coupled to said cart body proximate a rearward side of one of said front wheels for pivotal movement with respect to said cart body,   a second arm coupled to said cart body proximate a forward side of said one of said front wheels for pivotal movement with respect to said cart body,   a first engagement member fixed to a distal end of said first arm,   a second engagement member fixed to a distal end of said second arm, and   a damper having a first end fixed to said cart body proximate said one of said front wheels,   said first and second engagement members biased into a position that is slightly spaced from a floor with said front and rear wheels in generally level contact with the floor, said damper is coupled between said cart body and said first and second engagement members for dampening movement of said first engagement member with respect to said cart body; and     a rear-wheel-fall suppressing device having a third arm fixed to said cart body, a third engagement member fixed to a distal end of said third arm and a second damper fixed to said cart body and an other end of said third arm, said third arm being located at a rearward side of one of said rear wheels, said third engagement member being spaced from the floor with said front and rear wheels in generally level contact with the floor, said second damper being configured to dampen relative movement between said third engagement member and said cart body,   said first and second engagement members being interlocked such that movement of said first engagement member causes said second engagement member to undergo corresponding movement.   
     
     
       7. The cart according to claim 6, further comprising a second rear-wheel-fall suppressing device and a second front-wheel-fall suppressing device, said rear-wheel-fall suppressing device and said front-wheel-fall suppressing device being disposed on a first side of said cart body and said second rear-wheel-fall suppressing device and said second front-wheel-fall suppressing device being disposed on a second side of said cart body. 
     
     
       8. A cart to be moved up or down by an escalator after being moved onto the escalator comprising: a cart body;   a plurality of wheels arranged at a lower portion of said cart body; and a fall suppressing device having first and second engagement members and a damper, said first and second engagement members supported on said cart body at a rearward side of one of said wheel and in front of said one of said wheels, respectively, said first and second engagement members are spaced apart from a floor with said wheels in generally level contact with the floor, said engagement members being movable with respect to said cart body, said first and said second engagement members configured to pivot in opposite directions, said first and second engagement members are interlocked such that movement of said first engagement member causes said second engagement member to undergo corresponding movement,   said damper configured to dampen the movement of both said first and second engagement members with respect to said cart body, and said cart is adapted to be moved onto the escalator such that a predetermined space is maintained between the cart body and the escalator.   
     
     
       9. The cart according to claim 8, wherein said cart body further comprises a lower member and a carrier for carrying baggage, said carrier being coupled to said lower member of said cart body at a bottom portion thereof. 
     
     
       10. The cart according to claim 9, wherein said lower member includes an inclined portion that extends frontward and upward. 
     
     
       11. The cart according to claim 1, further comprising a manual brake mechanism configured to brake rotation of at least one of said wheels, and   an automatic brake mechanism automatically controlling at least one of said wheels that is adapted to contact a step surface of the escalator.   
     
     
       12. The cart according to claim 11, wherein said automatic brake mechanism includes a sensing plate formed with an axially extending protrusion and a locking gear connected to one of said wheels, said sensing plate being configured for contact with a level floor surface with said cart engaged on the level floor surface, and said sensing plate being configured for engagement in a groove formed on the step surface of the escalator with said cart engaged on the step surface of the escalator, wherein, in response to said sensing plate being engaged in the groove formed on the step surface, said protrusion is engageable with interlocking gear teeth formed on said locking gear thus restricting rotation of said one of said wheels.   
     
     
       13. The cart according to claim 12, wherein said one of said wheels is supported on a shaft, said sensing plate is formed with a central aperture through which said shaft extends, said central aperture being larger than a diameter of said shaft.   
     
     
       14. The cart according to claim 13, wherein said cart body includes a support plate fixed thereto, said support plate being formed with an opening proximate said one of said wheels, said sensing plate is formed with a second protrusion which extends through said opening in said support plate, such that engagement between said second protrusion and said support plate prevents rotation of said sensing plate.   
     
     
       15. The cart according to claim 11, wherein said automatic brake mechanism includes a sensing plate formed with a first and second protrusion and a locking gear connected to one of said wheels, said sensing plate being movably attached to said cart body proximate said one of said wheels, said cart body includes a support plate fixed thereto, wherein, in response to said sensing plate being engaged a groove formed on the step surface of the escalator with said cart engaged on the step surface of the escalator, said first protrusion is engageable with interlocking gear teeth formed on said locking gear and said second protrusion extends through said opening in said support plate, such that engagement between said second protrusion and said support plate prevents rotation of said sensing plate, thus restricting rotation of said one of said wheels.   
     
     
       16. The cart according to claim 15, wherein said one of said wheels is supported on a shaft, said sensing plate is formed with a central aperture through which said shaft extends, said central aperture being larger than a diameter of said shaft.